Acetylene-gas generator.



F. C. SCHRAMM.

' ACETYLENB GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14, 19M.

1, 14%2Q6B v Patented June 8, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

, jw am F. C. SCHRAMM.

ACEIYL'ENE GAS GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I4. 1914.

1,142,206. Patented June 8, 1915.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Zi/ VE/YTOR FREdERIQ/r 6". Sci/5191711 invention. The gas supply pipe 26 leads from the filter 25 out through the bottom of the tank 2, to the service pipe, and thence to the burners as usual.

An automatic escape device is provided in connection with the tank 2 and the gas bell, which includes a perforated tube 27 fixed to the gas retainer, and an outlet'pipe 28 fixed with relation to the tank 2. This tube and outlet pipe telescope each other, and it will be apparent that should the gas bell rise too high, the gas will be permitted to pass through'this perforated tube and out through the escape pipe 28 to the atmosphere.

As before stated, the generator is equippedwith carbid feed of the pop valve type, and

. the pop valve or feed valve is indicated by the numeral 29 in position to co-act with the valve. seat 21 in the bottom of the hopper 18. The valve 29'is carried on the vertical stem 30, which is centrally located and vertically reciprocated within the hopper 18.

The stem is passed through a plate 31. which is supported by arms 32 from the bottom of the hopper 18, and forms a closed perforated bottom for the feed tube 33. This tube 33 is inclosed'within the hopper, and has a cap 34 closing its upper end. This cap is designed to act as a closure against the. entrance of carbid, and the interference of 'the carbid with the feeding mechanism, when the carbid is fed or supplied through the opening 35 which is closed by the plug 36 in the top of the hopper.

The valve stem 30 is screwed into a feed rod 37 and this rod has pivoted thereto a link 38 which in turn is pivoted on the crank arm 39, fixed on the crank shaft 40. This crank shaft, as clearly seen, extends within. the hopper, and also projects out over the gas bell 3, and is supported to revolve in the wall of the hopper and also in a bearing 41 which is fixed to the cross bar 15 above the gas bell. The outer end of this crank shaft is equipped with a second crank arm as 42, and this arm carries a grooved roller 43 which is adapted to contact with, and be ridden down, by an operating arm 44. This operating arm, which extends at right angles to the crank shaft 40, is rigidly supported from the bell rod 45, and the bell rod is centrally located and fixed to the gas bell 3, to project upwardly to a suitable altitude. The operating arm 44 is provided with a collar 46 fitted over the end of. the bell rod 45,- and a thumb screw 47 is employed to secure the operating rod against a pin 48 in the bell rod 45. Near its juncture with the bell rod. the operating arm is formed with a curved portion 44' adapted especially to engage the roller 43at the initial contact of these parts.

.On'the crank shaft 40, a counter-acting weight 49 is suspended to close the valve 29.

understood that the valve 29 is opened when the gas bell descends to a certain predetermined level, and that it is positively closed by means of the counter-acting weight 49 when it ascends to the normal level.

A cushionin irin 53 is su i orted u on 76 the perforated plate 31, and surrounds the. stem 30. This spring is designed to take ofi the weight gradually from the gas bell,

thereby reducing the gas pressure accordingly. For instance, if all the carbid has 80 been exhausted from the hopper, the bell 3 descends toward the bottom of the tank 2, the lower end of the rod 37 will eventually engage the outer end of the coil spring 53,

, and in this manner the weight of the bell is gradually taken up, and the lights which are fed from the supply pipe will gradually diminish.

Preferably I employ a reserve. carbid holder as 54, located at a convenient position within the hopper 18, .and this holder which is open at the bottom, is controlled from the outside by means of a handle 55 and the stem 56, by means of which the valve 57 is turned to release the carbid in the holder 54.

This reserve carbid holder is designed especially to avoid recharging the machine at night in case the carbid in the main hopper should become exhausted. After all the carbid is exhausted or consumed from the hopper 18, all lights will gradually grow dim, and this will be sufficient notice of the necessity of calling upon the reserve carbid,

which may be done, and a sufiicient supply of gas generated to last until it is convenient M5 to replenish the supply in the main hopper.

In using the generator. it is set for operation as follows: The thumb screw 47 and operating arm 44 are first removed, and the tanks land 2 are filled with water until they overflow through the opening 13. The hopper 18 and the reserve carbid holder 54 are both filled with carbid. The counterweight 50 which holds the valve 29 closed within the seat 21, is now lifted. permitting a small quantity of carbid to fall into the water in the generating chamber 1. The gas bell will rise as the gas is generated, at least until the outer end of the bell rod 45 has passed the roller 43, and then the operating arm 44 is placed over the upper end of the bell rod, and clamped thereon by means of the thumb nut 47. The apparatus is now ready to operate automatically. The feed of carbid is prevented by the valve 29, and the valve is I held closed by the weight 49. As the gas is consumed in the gas bell, it descends and the operating arm 44 in its descent encounters the roller 43. The first contact of the arm 44 with the roller 43 is at the curved portion 44, and a continued contact of these parts causes the arms 44 to ride downwardly to roller 43 and turn or rock the crank shaft 40 through the medium of the crank arm 42. The rocking of the crank shaft turns the crank arm 39 downwardly and depresses the link 38, rod 37, and stem 30, and in this mannor the valve 29 is adjusted so that the carbid may fall through the seat 21 into the gas generating tank 1. After the gas bell has risen, counter-weight 49 gradually rocks the crank shaft 40 and returns the valve 29 to closed position. This movement is kept up automatically as long as the supply of carbid in the hopper 18 remains unexhausted. a

Having thus .fully described my inven-/ tion, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isz- In an acetylene gas generator, the com bination with the hopper having a valve opening therein, of a valve adapted to close said opening, a stem on the valve and a rock shaft operatively connected together, and means for rocking said'shaft, and a sup ported spring coiled about said stem adapted to cushion the movement of said rook shaft 2. The combination in an acetylene gas generator, with the carbid feed hopper havmg a valve opening, and a gas bell, of a valve with its stem supported in. the hopper, a rock shaft for reciprocating said stein, an operating arin carried by the gas hell, and an anti-friction roller on the rock shaft, and a supported spring about the cushioning excess movement of the gas bell.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK G. SCHRAMMQ Witnesses:

JUSTIN GREEN, C. A. 'FERGUsoN.

valve stem for 

